The Stax Report's "Gaijin" Edition

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Westerners in Japan, Hollywood-style.

By Stax

Stax here with a special "Gaijin" edition of The Stax Report! Although some would argue that the term is politically incorrect, "gaijin" refers to anyone who is not Japanese or who is an outsider to their country. Seeing as how I will soon be traveling to Japan for the first time in my life, I thought a showcase of films about other "gaijin" was in order:

Lost in Translation, 2003, dir. Sofia Coppola. This critically acclaimed comedy-drama explores the relationship between two Americans who encounter each other in Japan during a mutual crossroads in their lives. Fading movie star Bob Harris (Best Actor nominee Bill Murray) is in Tokyo to shoot a well-paying whisky ad. There he befriends recent college grad Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) at his hotel.

Charlotte is in Japan with her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) who abandons her to go off on assignment. Bob and Charlotte &#Array; who are both unhappy with their lives &#Array; take in Tokyo together but soon wonder if their fast friendship might not turn into something more substantial.

The Yakuza, 1975, dir. Sydney Pollack. Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura star in this culture clash crime drama. Harry Kilmer (Mitchum), an ex-G.I. familiar with Japanese culture, is called upon by old pal George Tanner (Brian Keith) to rescue his daughter in Japan after she's kidnapped by the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Kilmer receives assistance from his old foe, Ken Tanaka (Takakura), who owes him a debt.

The Last Samurai, 2003, dir. Edward Zwick. Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) &#Array; a drunken war hero haunted by the atrocities he committed against the Sioux &#Array; is hired by the Japanese government to serve as an "advisor" to the imperial military. Recently restored emperor Meiji wants to transform his military from a society of samurai warriors into a modern army. The samurai, however, will not go out gently. A large rebel faction, led by the charismatic Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), are branded traitors and ordered quashed.

After Katsumoto captures him in battle, Algren spends the next few months recuperating in Katsumoto's mountain village where he learns about Japanese culture and the ways of the samurai. Algren's loyalties soon become torn between the noble samurai he's grown to respect and the duplicitous fellows who hired him. He rides alongside Katsumoto when the samurai make their valiant last stand against the imperial forces.

Black Rain, 1989, dir. Ridley Scott. Tough NYPD detectives Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) and Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) get mixed up in a Yakuza gang war and end up escorting their prisoner halfway across the world back to Japan. When the killer escapes, Conklin and Vincent prowl the streets of Osaka and must understand how the Japanese operate in order to find him. After Charlie is slain by the Yakuza, Nick teams with Japanese detective Mashahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) to bring his partner's killers to justice.

007 thinks he's turning Japanese (he really thinks so).

You Only Live Twice, 1967, dir. Lewis Gilbert. James Bond (Sean Connery) finds himself in Japan in this outlandish sequel. In order to determine who is behind the theft of U.S. and Russian spacecraft, Bond fakes his own death, disguises himself as Japanese, and woos both Kissy Suziki (Mie Hama) and Helga Brandt (Karin Dor). 007 soon discovers that his nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasance, in a Dr. Evil-inspiring performance) is behind the diabolical plot. Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) adapted Ian Fleming's book for the screen.

The Barbarian and the Geisha, 1958, dir. John Huston. The only collaboration between two Hollywood legends &#Array; star John Wayne and filmmaker John Huston &#Array; resulted in this rare misfire for both men. This fact-based tale, set in 1856, stars The Duke as Townsend Harris, the first U.S. consul-general to Japan. As Harris tries to establish relations with the "forbidden empire," he faces hostility from the locals but eventually finds love with geisha girl Okichi (Eiko Ando). Look for Pat Morita in a supporting role!

MacArthur, 1977, dir. Joseph Sargent. This flawed but interesting biopic stars Gregory Peck as the iconic World War II figure, General Douglas MacArthur. The picture follows the stubborn, politically ambitious MacArthur from Bataan in 1942 to his dismissal by President Harry Truman (Ed Flanders) in 1951. MacArthur was produced by Patton's Frank McCarthy but this film, as hard as it tries, just isn't as grand or memorable as Patton (despite featuring another score by Jerry Goldsmith). Still, for many people Peck, like George C. Scott's Patton, seems more like MacArthur now than the real man!

Sayonara, 1957, dir. Joshua Logan. This drama tackles racial bigotry among U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan during the Korean War. G.I. Joe Kelly (Red Buttons) faces a court-martial for wanting to marry Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki). His commanding officer, Maj. Lloyd Gruver (Marlon Brando), tries to talk Kelly out of ruining his career only to fall in love himself with Kabuki dancer Hana-ogi (Miiko Taka). James Garner, Patricia Owens and Ricardo Montalban (as a Japanese man!) co-star.

Shogun, 1980, dir. Jerry London. This epic TV miniseries based on the James Clavell tome stars Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, a British sailor shipwrecked in 17th century Japan. Escaping what could have been a grim fate, Blackthorne gradually adopts the ways of the Japanese, befriends warlord Toranaga (Toshiro Mifune) and falls in love with interpreter Mariko (Yoko Shimada). Blackthorne is sought out by other Europeans who arrive in Japan with hungry eyes. Orson Welles provided voice-over narration for the 1983 rebroadcast.